Sun Damage

UV Rays Are Bad News For Our Skin

That “healthy glow” from being in the sun is really just a precursor to a wide variety of skin problems our bodies experience later in life. Sun exposure, particularly the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light, is responsible for the skin changes we see as we age. UV rays damage our skin’s elastin, the fibers that help our skin retain its elasticity and shape. Without it, skin stretches and sags, and may also take longer to heal.

In addition to causing aesthetic changes, exposure to UV light can cause skin cancer, a serious condition that can disfigure you and potentially be deadly.

Symptoms

Sun damage is primarily responsible for the fine or deep wrinkles that appear around the eyes, mouth and forehead and the sagging that comes from the destruction of elastic and collagen tissue (elastosis). Many patients also experience freckles and discolored areas of the skin (mottled pigmentation), or a yellow discoloration of the skin. Sun damage can also cause telangiectasias (small blood vessels that dilate under the skin) and even benign tumors.